There was a time when children’s books were primarily meant for studying, but that has long since changed. Today’s children’s literature, for studying as well as pleasure, is well and alive.
Babies are unable to learn how to read yet, but that does not mean they should not be confronted with books. Be it they are made out of plastic, cloth or heavy cardboard books can help with language development. They show pictures associated with words and some even come with sound. They are often put together in a fun way as if they were a game rather than a learning tool. That really does not matter as long as the child is interested and will improve its communication skills. Learning to read is hard work for children. They need the support from parents, preschool and kindergarten teachers to set the stage and teach them some critical early abilities. Becoming a reader involves developing important skills like listening, recognizing symbols and understanding what is read.
Reading stimulates the brain. When children become competent readers in the early grades, they are more likely to become better learners throughout their school life and beyond. That is why it is extremely important to give a child the appropriate materials to work with. Books have to be intriguing, a challenge, yet build confidence. The child has to feel they can master the new skills and added knowledge and needs reinforcement that its comprehension is being build up.
Thinking of buying Mark Twain’s classic Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the works of Dr. Seuss or a few stories of this inquisitive fellow called “Curious George” who is letting animals out of the zoo or riding a rocket? Whatever you pick, remember that a story has to stick into the child’s mind. That is why picking out children’s literature can be a bit of a challenge. You have to take the child’s interest and skill level into consideration. If a book is boring or too difficult you will have wasted your money. Maybe a visit to the library can help you to determine if the child is more into fairy tales, fiction or comic books. If the child is interested in movies like Harry Potter or Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, don’t let that opportunity go by to also introduce the book that made these shows famous. Use every trick possible to get a child interested in reading. In the end, the better they know their ABC’s, the more they will get out of life. |
